BPC welcomes new Human Services club

Human Services Club Leadership are back row from left to right: Krista Miller, Sara Marson, Paige DePratter, Sharonta Williams and Dr. Susan Kinsella. Front, left to right: Jacob Lane and Hakeem Helmy. Not Pictured: Casey Harrell, Crystal Adams, Elizabeth Poythress, and Eric DePratter. (Photo provided)

MOUNT VERNON— Brewton-Parker College’s newest student organization on campus has already made an impression on the campus and the community this semester.

The Human Services Club, which originated last spring in Dr. Susan Kinsella’s HS 201 “Introduction to Human Services” class, along with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, held a can drive challenge on campus last week. The BPC family of students, faculty and staff were encouraged to bring canned goods to the Phillips Student Center, placing it in boxes with selected BPC staff, faculty and student representatives’ pictures on them. The three individuals with the most cans in their boxes were then “pied” at the BPC Fall Festival Thursday, Nov. 11.

“It will be lots of fun for everyone on the 11th and a most worthy cause since all the food goes to God’s Storehouse in Vidalia,” said Hakeem Helmy, Human Services Club President.

Greg Coursey, Amber Egan, William Braswell and Bruce Egbert were the students whose boxes collected the most cans – and were “forced” to go through the Relay of Disgust at the Fall Festival.

The Human Services Club helped organize the children’s area at the Chili Cook-off Oct. 23 and pleased many local children by making snow cones and popcorn. The club sold coffee and donuts as a fundraiser at the BPC Lawn Sale in September.

“While learning about the history of helping others and gaining the knowledge and skills required to mobilize resources for those in need, the students decided that putting those skills into action would be worthwhile,” said Helmy about the club that was very popular on the Hinesville campus under Dr. Kinsella’s sponsorship.

BPC students first decided to organize the club on this campus as a class project.  After studying about program planning and development, they wrote a proposal outlining what they wanted their Human Services Club to look like. The proposal was then submitted and approved by the BPC Student Government Association in May, 2010.

The first club meeting elected officers before the summer semester. In addition to Helmy serving as president, the following students take these leadership roles: Jacob Lane, vice president; Sara Marson, secretary; Casey Harrell, treasurer; Krista Miller, activities chairperson; Paige DePratter, historian; Sharonta Williams, athletic liaison; Eric DePratter, chaplain; Elizabeth Poythress, media coordinator; and, Crystal Adams, business liaison.

For more information about the Human Services Club, contact Dr. Kinsella at 912-583-3108 or Helmy at hhelmy@bpc.edu. Brewton-Parker College is the only accredited four-year Christian college in South Georgia.